Ice rink structure



July l1, 1933. MR. CARPENTER 1,917,634

' v1cm KINK STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 8', 1930 3 sheets-sheet 1 l Maki/WR (anpe/Mr [live/1 tor 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I M. R. CARPENTER ICE Rmx STRUCTURE Filed sept. a, 19:56

VJuly 11, 1933.

:MV Y f/w/@Mf f 1 m NN H Caffe/7 62' July 11, 1933. M. R. CARPENTER 10E RINK STRUQTURE Filed sept. 8, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 [/vYL/emfar'A Marti/7H. C62/Penta l I )71 /gbnu Patented July l1, 1933 UNITED STATES MARTIN R. CARPENTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ICE BINX STRUCTURE Application led September My invention relates to rinks wherein ice is artificially formed on a floor, and has reference more particularly to the construction and mounting of floors of this character so as to expand and contract freely and without any detrimental effects under the changes of temperature which necessarily occur.

ln ice rinks a floor of concrete or other composition and of relatively large area is Il usually provided, having a curb around the edge and pipes embedded in the lloor through which a cooling medium is circulated Vfrom refrigerating apparatus for freezing water n u on the oorto form a layer of ice thereon, and such floors, on account of their large area and the variations of temperature to which they are subjected, expand and contract to such an extent that when constructed in accordance with the best practice hereto- C fore known, they soon break, buckle and disintegrate and cause excessive trouble and expense.

'l` his breaking down of the floor, while resulting principally from repeated expansion and contraction, is due primarily to cracks or fissures which have been provided in the floor, when built, in the form of seams oi' expansion joints or which may subsequently develop on account of inadequate or im- 7 proper precautions for preventing same, as

, larly insufcient tying together of all parts of the floor to insure drawing inward or return movement thereof in contraction; improper mounting and impairment 0r breaking down of the floor supporting structure which permits the floor to yield and crack;

improper floor composition or non-uniformity orvariations in the character of the mixture used at different places throughout the floor and particularly the employment of f' l strata of dissimilar materials having differ- 8,1930. serial No. 480,323.

ent expansion characteristics.; and unequal changes of temperature at proximate places throughout the oor due to short cut circulation through certain pipes which are nearest to the inlets and outlets. Such cracks or fissures whether pre-arranged in the form of seams or expansion joints or subsequently developed on account of improper mounting, lack of proper reinforcing or suitable provision for expansion and contraction, inequalities of temperature, distribution, noniiniformity of floor composition, or otherwise, afford avenues through which water and moisture, which is necessarily present at times on the rink floor, will penetrate into and under the floor and eventually ruin it for its intended purpose, as the water and moisture entering the cracks or seams and expansion joints, in the subsequent freezing operations not only progressively increases the se )aration of the cracked sections of the floor ut introduces new and additional cracking and bulging strains, while the water and moisture which works its way down through the cracks and seams and under the floor, unless promptly drained away, causes bulging, swelling, rotting out of any Wood that may have been used and other impairment of the floor supporting structure with a resultant disintegration of the floor.

Therefore, it is important not only to avoid seams or joints but also to construct and mount the -iloor with ample safeguards against all of the various stresses, strains and other conditions peculiar to these floors, which are likely to develop cracks, this being of special importance in ice rink doors which are used for other purposes in addition to skating, as for example for dancing, exhibitions, etc., as it is oftentimes necessary to remove and replace thesice quickly and at frequent intervals. In such cases it is customary when the ice is to be removed to loosen up the ice by warming the liquid which is circulated through the Hoor piping, and the floor is accordingly subjected to frequent and abrupt changes of temperature with correspondingly frequent and severe expansion and contraction strains.

With my invention the ditliculties encountered with previous oors are entirely avoided by taking care of the expansion and contraction without the necessity of seams or expansion joints, the floor being of a permanent monolithic form having uniform expansion characteristics throughout the entire mass and suitably supported and properly reinforced to obviate any stresses and strains that might result in cracks.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide an improved ice rink floor structure and method of making same; to construct the floor in a permanent monolithic form without seams or expansion joints; to avoid cracking of the floor and prevent penetration of water and moisture into and through the floor; to mount the Hoor in a floating manner so that it expands and contracts freely witbout binding; to incorporate reinforcing in the floor in a manner to insure rigidity and withstand the strains of expansion and contraction and maintain the entire floor in a permanent, unbroken, unitary form; to insure a permanent unyielding support for the ioor and at the same time afford adequate slippage for expansion and contraction; to permit convenient and etl'ective insulation of the Hoor on the underside; to provide improved connections for the headers; to arrange the connections so that they are below the desired level of the surrounding floor; to mount the floor pipes in an improved manner; to utilize the pipe mounting for reinforcing the floor; to pro- 35 vide an improved mounting for the railing around the floor, and in general to provide a floor structure and method of making same wherein the supporting, reinforcing, composition and unification of the floor, the provisions for expansion and contraction, and the manner of effecting changes of temperature are all co-related in a proper manner to insure ample strength and durability and to effectively avoid the difficulties heretofore experienced with floors of the character to which this invention relates.

On the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of substantially onequarter portion and remote edge portions of a floor structure embodying my improvements, with parts thereof broken away at places to disclose details of the construction;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 showing a portion of the trench and the connections at one side of the oor;

Fig. 3 is a similar section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing a portion of the trench and connections ate the other side of the Hoor;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional and perspective view of an edge portion of the floor;

Fig. 5 is a side view of connected end 65 portions of the pipe supporting members;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the expansion connection which is employed between the headers and themains;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the coupling at the end of the expansion connection;

Fig. 8 is a side view and Fig. 9 a top view of the post socket' for the railing around the rink floor; l

tion which may be employed, one of which is adapted for use where the rink floor is built on the ground and'used principally or entirely for skating purposes, in which case it is unnecessary to remove and replace the ice at frequent intervals, and the other of which is designed particularly for use where the I rink is located over a basement or on an upper floor or is used for other purposes in addition to skating, in which cases special precautions are necessary or desirable to insulate the floor on the underside so as to prevent the basement or rooms under the rink being affected by the rink temperature and facilitate the removal and replacement of the ice by avoiding downward dissipation of temperature changes and minimizing the mass of material which it is necessary'to cool each time the ice is to be replaced.

In the first mentioned form of construction, in connection with which my invention is i1- lustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, the rink floor proper, which is indicated as a whole at 12 is placed directly upon a layer 13 of sand with a plurality of supports 14 arranged at intervals throughout the area of the Hoor. and a retaining wall indicated at 15 extending entirely around and preferably under the edge of the floor.. The supports 14 may be concrete blocks of proper height according to the depth of the layer 13 of sand and each is preferably set in a base 16 of concrete, said blocks being arranged in spaced relation lengthwise of the floor in laterally spaced parallel lines or rows, the blocks of each row being spaced apart longitudinally of the rink Hoor for example about nine feet and said rows being spaced apart transversely of the Hoor substantially the same distance.

The wall 15 which extends around and under the marginal edge portion of the Hoor is built up to substantially the level of the top of the blocks 14 and the top surface of said wall is faced with a metal cap 17, proferably of sheet zinc, which has the edges turned downwardly and bent inwardly as indicated at 18 to bite into the concrete wall 15 while the latter is soft so that the cap plate 17, in addition to its being held in place by the natural aiiinity of the zinc and concrete is further secured against displacement by the downturned edges. The blocks 14 are also metal covered, plates 19 which may also be of zinc, being provided for this purpose. These plates 19, however, are not secured to their `respective blocks but the latter are preferably preformed and the plates 19, which are larger than and project outwardly around the blocks substantially as shown in Fig. 4, are placed loosely on the blocks 14 and become bonded to the underside of the ioor 12 when the latter is poured' in place. For example, the top faces of the blocks14 may be about eight inches square in which case the plates 19 would be approximately 12 inches square so as to extend about two inches beyond the top face of the block all the way around.

These rink floors have a plurality of pipes embedded therein for circulating vthe cooling medium through the fioor and for the purpose of locating and holding these pipes at the proper elevation and in the proper spaced relation while the floor is being assembled and poured, l mount a longitudinal girder on each longitudinal row or series of supports 14 so as to serve as longitudinal reinforcing means for the door and l construct these girders so as to space and support the pipes which are built into the floor. These girders may be of any desired construction but preferably consist of lengths 20 of T- iron which have plates 21 secured to and extending above the upright web of the T- iron, said plates 21 being preferably spot welded at intervals throughout their length to the T-irons 20 as indicated at 22, and said plates are provided in their upper edges with semi-circular recesses 23 to form seats for the floor pipes 24. The contiguous ends of the adjoining lengths or sections 2O of the girders are located over blocks 14 to insure adequate support for such ends and these ends are oined together by clamping or connecting plates 25 and 26 which are arranged on opposite sides respectively of upright web portions of the adjoining ends of the T-iron sections 20 and secured together with said web portions therebetween by bolts 27. The connecting plate 26 which extends above the T-iron 20 so as to form a continuation of the contiguous plates 21 has recesses 28 in the upper edge corresponding to and spaced apart like the recesses or seats 23 of the plates 21 for supporting pipes 24 and said connecting plates 26 may be. additionally secured to the ends of the i-iron sections 20 by spot welding` as indicated at 29, it being understood that these stringers or girders and their plates 21 and 26 do not extend above the pipes 24 and that they are accordingly well below the top of the concrete 12, which is solid and continuous over and from side to side of the stringers or girders, or in other words, the entire door 12 is of one piece of monolithic form with no joints or seams throughout its entire area. Reinforcing bars 30 are preferably provided at intervals throughout the length of each Stringer or longitudinal reinforcing member 20, these bars 30 being inserted through apertures in the upright web of the T-iron 30;- and embedded in the concrete 12.

In addition to the longitudinal strin gers or girders 20, the iioor is further reinforced longitudinally by bars 31 located immediately under and securely wired to the pipes 24 as indicated at 32, the number and spacing or the size of said bars throughout the length of the iioor being preferably varied in accordance With the diminution of contraction and expansion strains toward the ends of the floor, as for example, in the present structure there are ten substantially equally spaced bars 31 between each adjoining pair of stringers or girders 20 and extending outwardly at each side of the longitudinal center line A--A substantially to the line B-B, while between the line B -B and the line C-C the number of bars 31 is reduced to 8 and the spacing correspondingly increased Vand between the lines C-C and the respective end O the rink floor the number of bars 31 is reduced to 6 and the spacing thereof correspondingly increased, this arrangement of said bars being shown in Fig. 1 in the broken away portion of the floor immediately below the line D-D which represents the transverse center line of the door. An edge reinforcing bar 33, which is arranged substantially at the same level as the bars 31, is also provided which extends entirely around the iioor and is embedded in the edge thereof.

Immediately above the pipes 24 and also embedded in the floor 12 and extending throughout the entire area thereof` is a wire mesh 34 of galvanized wire, the longitudinal and transverse wires of which are preferably spaced apart a distance of approximately six inches, and this ioor is preferably completed with a finish surface 35 of terrazo or the like which should have the same ratio of mixture content, Water and aggregate as thev floor l2 so as to expand and contract similarly therewith. i

The pipes 24 which extend entirely across the floor 12 and have the ends, which project beyond the edges of the fioor, connected with headers 36 at one side and 37 at the other side of the ioor, serve as a transverse reinforcing while the girders 20 and bars 3l reinforce the floor longitudinally and form a` rigid iioor structure which by reason of the fact that the iioor merely rest-s' on the sup- Y pending and contracting without resisting strains and is held together by the pipes and other reinforcing in a permanent monolithic form free from the tendencies of previous floors to crack and break down.

The pipes 24 are arranged in batteries with a header 36 at one end and a header 37 at the other end of each battery of pipes, said headers and connections being located in trenches 38 and 39 respectively which extend along the sides of the fioor and contain the mains 40 and 41 for supplyingand removing the cooling medium which in practice may be and is supplied at times from one side and at other times from the other side of the floor, although for convenience in distinguishing same the side Where the Amain 40 is located will be considered hereafter as the inlet or supply side and the other as the outlet or dlscharge side.

.The headers 37 at what is termed the outlet side of the fioor are at substantially the same level as the pipes 24 and have the latter directly connected therewith as shown in Fig. 2, each of said headers being connected by an expansion bend or elbow 42 with the main 41 which leads to the return pipe 43 in the trench 44 through which connections are made with the refrigerating apparatus. Said main 41, which is supported in any convenient manner, as for example by hangers 45, is stepped down in size at intervals from the connected end according to the relative capacity of the pipes 24 that are served thereby, as for example, in the present structure, the pipe 41 at the end adjoining the pipe 43 is 8 inches in diameter throughout the length of the first 19 connections 42, then stepped down to 6 inches in diameter for the distance of the next 9 connections, then 5 inches in size for the distance of the next 6 connections and then 4 inches in size for the last 4 connections.

The headers 36 at the so-called inlet side of the floor are positioned below the ends of the pipes 24 as shown in Fig. 3 each of said pipes being provided at the end with a T-iitting 46 having a removable plug 47 affording access to the respective pipe for cleaning and each fitting 46 is individually connected by a pipe 48 and coupling 49 with a header 36 -which is in turn connected by an expansion elbow 50 with the supply main 40. This supply main 40 which is mounted in any convenient manner as for example on supports 51, is connected at the end 52 remote from the trench 44 with a return pipe 53 which is also mounted on supports 51 and leads back through the trench 38 to a cross pipe 54 in a transverse trench 55 to the pipe 56 which is in the trench 44 and connects with the refrigerating apparatus and said supply main 40 is also stepped down in size from the end 52 at intervals in like manner to the outlet main 41. Thus the intake 40 starts in at the corner of the Hoor remote from the source of supply of the cooling medium and is reduced in size as connections are taken off therefrom so as to insure a uniform distribution of the cooling medium' to all the intake headers 36, and the outlet leads from the corner of the Hoor nearest the source of supply and is likewise reduced in size as outlet connections are made therewith so as to insure. a uniform outflow from the outlet headers 37 and by reason of this opposite corner connection of the supply and outlet mains and the gradual reduction in size of the said mains, a substantially uniform capacity for circulation is not only provided for each battery of pipes but the same length of avenue of circulation is provided to and from each battery of pipes so that uniform circulation through all batteries of pipes is assured.

Moreover, to complete the uniformity of circulation, even through the individual pipes of each battery I make the connection of the supply main 40 with-al1 the intake headers 36 at the ends of the latter farthest from the source of supply of the cooling medium (that is, farthest from the trench 44) and I make the connections of the outlet main with all the outlet headers 37 at the ends of the latter nearest to the source of supply, as in Patent No. 1,186,137 to Scott, so that the avenue of circulation through each individual pipe 24 of the entire floor, from the header inlet to the header outlet is exactly the same, and thus insures uniform circulation through each individual pipe of each battery as Well as uniform circulation through each battery.

This arrangement of the piping headers and mains is very important as it accomplishes automatically and with certainty and without the multiplicity of individual pipe valves which others have found it necessary to employ, uniform application of the cooling medium throughout the entire area of the floor and not only avoids differences in temperature at proximate places with resulting unequal expansion or contraction but it also keeps the temperature of the ice uniform and prevents melting and softening of the ice which occurs at places throughout the ioor if the circulation of the cooling medium is not even and uniform.

The expansion elbows or loops 42 and 50, which serve to provide a yielding connection between the mains and the floor so that the latter is free to expand both transversely and longitudinally, are alike and of an improved construction permitting ease of installation, ready adaptability to contractional and expansional movement of the floor and freer and more uniform circulation. Each of these elbows or loops, as shown particularly in Figs. 6 and 7, consists principally of a length of lead pipe 57 which is bent in a U- shape somewhat as shown in Fig. 6, and has one end connected to the respective header 36 or 87 through nipples 58 and 59 and elbow and the other end connected to the respective main 40 or 41 through the valve 61, 5 nipples 62 and elbow 63. The nipple 58 which is next to the pipe 57 and the end of the valve 6l next to said pipe are each provided with a common coupling iange 64 and for the purpose of providing a simple, convenient and effective means for connecting the ends of the pipe 57 therewith, I preferably provide each end of the latter with a coupling flange 65 which has a central opening 66 to receive the end of the pipe 57 which is swaged outwardly around the opening 66 and against the outer face of the coupling flange 65 as indicated at 67 so that when this coupling fiange 65 is connected with a coupling flange 64 in the usual manner by bolts engaged through the bolt holes 68, the flared portion 67 of the lead pipe serves as a gasket which is clamped between the coupling anges 64 and 65 and seals the joint. The use of the lead pipe loop for the connections between the headers and mains is very advantageous as it not only is easily shaped and fitted in place without thenecessity of accurate cutting, threading and fitting together of the usual pipe connections and is suciently pliable to adjust itself readily to any changes in shape or position that are required in the expansion and contraction of the floor, but it also insures greater freedom and uniformity of circulation as the length of pipe 57 and the number and arrangement of the fittings of each connection is exactly the same even in cases, as illustrated at the ends of the floor in Fig. 1, where the cross pipes are shortened up, on account of the shape of the floor, and a dierent form of connection is required between the headers and the mains.

In floors of this character it is customary to provide a surrounding curb to confine the water and ice on the fioor and it is also desirable to provide seating space, passageways, etc., around the floor preferably at a unlform and slight elevation above the floor. This is accomplished in my construction by providing around the rink floor a marginal oor 69 of any 'desired width with the inner edge portion thereof extended over and restlng upon the marginal edge of the rink floor 1n a manner to permit free relative movement of the two ioors. This marginal Hoor which may be of any desired construction and made of wood, concrete or other material, has the inner edge extended over the. marffinal retaining wall 15 with the edge por- 60 tion of the floor 12 between the upper edge of said'wall 15 and the inner edge portion of the surrounding ioor 69, and when the latter is made of concrete, special provislon is required to avoid bonding of the concrete p 5 of the marginal floor 69 with the edge of the ioor 12 and to insure the necessary slippage between the overlapping parts for free expanslon and contraction of the door 12. This may bc conveniently accomplished in 'the concrete structure as shown in Fig. 4 by providing a facing 7() of metal, such as sheet zinc, on the underside of the overlying portion of the marginal floor 69, which rests on thetop surface of the floor 12, 0r the terrazo facing 35 thereof, so as' to permit the necessary slippage, said facing 70 preferably havp vmarginal door, and these bars also serve to reinforce the iioor 69 which is built over and forms the top wall of the trenches at the sides and ends of the rink floor. This marginal Hoor may be covered with a layer 74 of linoleum or any desired floor covering material, and on the underside and over the trenches is preferably lined with cork 75 or other insulating material to conserve the cold temperature in the trenches and' minimize the undesirable cooling of the oor surface thereabove.

As before indicated, it is preferred to have the marginal floor 69 around the rink floor at a uniform level and elevated only a sufficient distance above the rink floor 12 to provide a satisfactory marginal curbing, this being desirable so that the marginal floor 69 is easily accessible at any place around the rink floor and all portions thereof may therefore be cpnveniently used for spectator spacefpassageways to and from the rink ioor and other similar purposes. With many types of installations the mains and other connections are arranged so that they extend to such an extent above the level of the rink iioor that desirable space around the rink floor is sacrificed for the purpose and asurrounding marginal floor at a uniform conveniently low elevation can not be provided. With my construction, however, this desirable and important result is accomplished as the main 40 and connections at the inlet side of the rink are well below the floor level as shown in Fig. 3 while at the outlet side the main 41 and connections are arranged as shown in Fig. 2 so that they may be located substantially at the rink oor level, the branches or leads from the outlet main 41 being arranged at or near the top thereof as indicated at 76 in Fig. 2 so as to ermit the location of the marginal floor at thedesired low level.

In rinks of this character it is oftentimes desirable to have a railing around the rink iioor with openings or passages therethrough for the patrons to enter and leave the floor, and this railing should be removable as the floor is frequently used for purposes wherein a railing around the floor is not desired. This is accomplished in my construction by making the railing, a fragmentary lower portion of which is indicated herein at 7 7 lin sections with posts 78 at intervals, the lower ends of which said posts engage in sockets piovided therefo in the curbing portion of the marginal Hoor 69. These sockets, which are preferahly located close to the face of the eurbing, comprise tubular socket members '79 which open through the top of the curbing portion and extend to the bottom thereof, and are arranged at suitable intervals along the curbing. For anchoring these socket members securely in the curbing they are provided near their upper and lower ends with outwardly extending arms 80 and laterally extending arms 81 which are welded or otherwise attached to the tubular members 79 and when embedded in the concrete these arms 80 and 81 hold the socket members per.- manently in place. The inner face of the curb is preferably protected with a metal facing 82 as shown in Fig. 4 and an angle iron 83 may be provided along the upper edge with the linoleum 74 or other fioor covering extended under and'held in Iplace "by the top fiange of the angle iron and the railing 77 may be provided with a floor plate 84 along the bottom which rests on the iioor covering 74 when the posts 78 are fully inserted in their sockets 79, thereby giving the railing a substantial, permanent and finished appearance.

In constructing this iioor, the surrounding retaining wall 15 is first installed with the facing 17 arranged in place in the top thereof, after which the ground is removed, if necessary and leveled off to the required depth below the top of the wall 15 to accommodate the layer 13 of sand. The pre-cast blocks 14, which are provided merely to insure proper support of the piping until the concrete is poured, are then placed in position, the earth being preferably hollowed out slightly at each block location as indicated at 85 and filled in with soft concrete'l to form a footing, said blocks being set so that the top faces thereof are at substantially the same eleva,

tion as the top surface of the surrounding wall 15. After the foptings 16 have set, the plates 19 are placed on the blocks 14 and the longitudinal stringers and pipe supports-20, with their reinforcing bars 30, set in place and said Stringer sections connected up with their joints located over blocks 14. The sand layer 13 which may be filled in at any time, either before or after the installation of the stringers 20, is leveled off, preferably slightly above the upper surfaces of the plates 19 of the blocks 14 and the facing 17 of the wall 15 and with a little slope downwardly thereto as indicated at 86 in Fig. 4. The pipes 24 are then set in place in the seats 23 of the stringers 20 and connected up with their inlet headers 36, and the reinforcing bars 31 and 33 placed in position, the former being wired securely to the underside of the pipes 24. The wire mesh 34 is then laid upon the pipes 24, and a suitable forni having been built around the wall .15 at the top to confine the edge of the fioor, the concrete 12 is poured in place and leveled off with the top surface thereof well above the pipes 24 and all other members such as stringers, reinforcing members and the like that are incorporated in the flooring, so that the concrete forms an integral monolithic slab without any joints or seams throughout the entire area of the floor. 'The facing plate 17 on the wall 15 is' covered with waxed paper before the concrete is applied thereover, so as to prevent adhesion or bonding of the newly poured concrete with the facing plate 17. The pouring of the concrete 12 is followed up immediately with the laying of the terrazo 35 or other surface covering.

lVliile the floor composition vmay be made of any material suitable for the purpose, it is very important that the materials and the proportions thereof are the same throughout the entire area of the floor as variations in material or mixture at places throughout the floor are likely to result in different expansion and contraction characteristics which introduce stresses and strains that will ultimately cause cracks. With the floor reinforced andsupported as above indicated and a suitably uniform composition employed, and the piping arranged as above described to insure uniformity of temperature throughout the entire floor, a rigid and permanent monolithic floor results with adequate provision for slippage to accommodate the severest expansion and contraction without affecting the unity of the floor structure. Therefore, as seams and expansion joints are not eniployed and as the floor isconstructed so that cracks do not occur, and as cracks, seams and expansion joints, as above pointed out, are the principal causes of disintegration and breaking down of ice rink floors, the objectionable features of previous ioors are avoided and an ice rink floor is provided which will withstand long usage without any detrimental effects.

After the floor has been completed as above indicated and the composition has thoroughly set, the marginal floor 69 is built so as to extend over the marginal edge of the rink floor without any binding or restraining action which would interfere with the expansion and contraction of the rink floor. In

constructing the marginal floor 69 of concrete `r as illustrated herein the metal plate 70 is located in position on the edge of the floor 12 above ldie wall 15, the reinforcing bars 71 and 7 3 and socket members 79 located and held in place, and with suitable forms arranged to confine the concrete over the Hoor 12 lo the surface of the metal plate 70. the latter will be anchored in the concrete of the floor (S9 and ati'ord a facing on the underside mi thereof which slidingly engages the top sui'- face of the floor 12 and permits the necessary relative. movement between the doors 12 and (il) for expansion and contraction. I

ln cases such'as hereinbefore pointed out,

'i where the rink is located on an upper floor or above a basement or where itis necessary to remove and replace the ice frequently or quickly, special insulation is desirable on the underside of the floor to avoid migration of Etemperature changes downwardly with its i romplished in the manner illustrated in Figs.

lll and ll.

In this construction a concrete base 87 is provided either on the ground or at the elevation in the building where the ring is to be located, and if a surrounding wall is employed this merelyextends up to the level of the upper surface of the base 87 as indicated at 88 in lfig. 1l. After this has been completed, the top surfaces of the base 87 and wall 88 are mopped with hot asphalt and one or more layers 8S) ot cork, laid thereover so as to extend out over the wall 88 as shown in Fig. 11, the blocks of cork composing the layers being mopped with the hot asphalt to bond and seal the cork blocks in place. After the top surface of the upper layer 89 of cork has been thoroughly mopped with hot asphalt a thin laver 90 of cold asphalt or asphalt emulsion is applied thereon and covered with a layer 91., of asbestos paper after which the entire surface is rolled down fiat and smooth. A layer u2 of sheet Zinc is then laid over the asbestos J1 and upon this zinc layer the stringers 20 are located and the floor 12 built-- i 17 and 19, the stringers 20 and concrete in the insulated structure of Figs. 10 and 11 bcing placed directly on the upper surface of the zine facing 92 which latter adheres to the concrete of the floor 12 and provides an under surface therefor which permits the lioor to expand and contract freely on the smooth surface of the asbestos layer 91.

lVith this construction of Figs. 10 and l1, the cork layers 89 afford insulation to prevent downward migration of temperature changes from the rink lloor 12 and thereby restrict the Zone'of temperature changes and minimize the mass of material which must be warmed to remove the ice from the floor and cooled to replace the ice, and removal and replacement of the ice so that the floor may be optionally used fo'r skating or other purposes is accomplished more economically and in less time than with lioors in which an insulating base is not provided.

lVhile I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, I am aware that various changes and modilications may be made therein, and that certain features thereof may be employed in connection with floors Y other than those which are intended for ice rink purposes, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scopev of which is to be determined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: 1. In an ice skating rink floor structure the combination of ,a plurality of laterally ported by and extending transversely over' the stringers and a composition slab having the pipes and stringers embedded therein.

3. In an ice skating rink lioor structure the combination of a plurality of laterally spaced stringers extending longitudinally of the floor, a plurality of pipes mounted on the stringers and extending crosswise of the floor, longitudinal reinforcing bars adjacent the pipes and between -the stringers and a composition slab having the pipes and stringers and reinforcing bars embedded therein.

4. In a skatingrink the combination ofv an ice supporting Hoor, said Hoor comprising a one piece monolithic composition slab extending throughout the entire area of the skating floor, laterally spaced stringers embedded in the bottom portion of the slab, a plurality of closely adjoining pipes on and extending transversely over the stringers and embedded in the slab, and laterally spaced reinforcing bars between the stringers and extending lengthwise thereof and embedded in the slab.

5. In a skating rink, the combination of an ice supporting ioor comprising a one -piece monolithic composition slab, and a curb extending around and re sting on the edge portion of the monollthlc slab, said curb being loose from the slab to permlt expansion and contraction of the slab independently of the curb, said floor being provided with a plurality of horizontal passageways therein with connections through which a medium is supplied to said passageways for cooling the surface of the floor to an ice forming temperature.

6. In a skating rink the combination of an ice supporting composition ioor, a curb extending around and resting on the edge portion of the ioor, said curb being loose from the floor to permit expansion and contraction of the floor independently of the curb, and a metal facing between the floor and curb alording a sliding connection therebetween for relative movement of the floor and curb, said oor being provided with a plurality of horizontal passageways therein with connections through which a medium is supplied to said passageways for cooling the surface of the floor to an ice forming temperature.

7. In a skating rink the combination of an ice supporting composition ioor, a wall extending around and having the edge portion of the lioor resting thereon, a curb extending around and resting on the edge portion of the floor, and a metal facing between the floor and the top face of the wall and between the floor and the bottom face of the curb affording a sliding connection permitting the Hoor to expand and contract independently of the wall and curb, said floor being provided with a plurality of horizontal passageways therein with connections through which a' medium is supplied to said passageways for cooling the surface of the Hoor to an ice forming temperature.

8. A monolithic ice rink floor of solidified cementitious material having a multiplicity of laterally spaced substantially parallel horizontal passageways therein, means for distributing to said passageways a medium for y cooling the surface of the floor to an ice producing temperature, and a base on which said Hoor is movably supported for independent expansion and contraction, said rink floor being unitary and seamless throughout its entire ice producing surface and having embedded therein reinforcing means which extend transversely to said passageways and bond together the portions of the floor at opposite sides of said passageways throughout substantially the entire ice producing area of the rink floor.

9. A monolithic ice rink floor of solidified cementitious material having a multiplicity of laterally spaced substantially parallel horizontal passageways therein, means for distributing to said passageways a medium for cooling the surface of the door to an ice producing temperature, and a base on which said floor is movably supported for independent expansion and contraction, said rink floor being unitary and seamless throughout its entire ice producin surface and having embedded therein reinforcing means which extend transversely under said passageways and bond together the portions of the floor at opposite sides of said passageways throughout substantially the entire ice producing area of the rink floor.

10. A monolithic ice rink lloor of solidified tcementitious materialhaving a multiplicity of laterally spaced substantially parallel horizontal passageways therein, means for distributing to said passageways a medium for cooling the surface of the floor to an ice producing temperature, and a base on which said floor is movably supported for independent expansion and contraction, said rink floor being unitary and seamless throughout its entire ice producing surface and having embedded therein reinforcing means which extend transversely under said passageways and bond together the portions ofthe floor at opposite sides of saidpassageways throughout substantially the entire ice producing area of the rink floor, said reinforcing means being located substantially midway between the top and bottom surfaces of the fioor.

11. A monolithic ice rink ioor of solidified cementitious material having embedded therein a multiplicity of horizontal closely arranged parallel pipes, means for distributing to said pipes a medium for cooling the surface of the licor to an ice producing temperature, and a base on which said floor ip f movably supported for independent expansion and contraction, said rink floor being unitary and seamless throughout its entire ice producing surface and having embedded therein under said pipes and substantially midway between the top and bottom surfaces of the floor, reinforcing bars which extend transversely to the pipes and bond together the portions of the floor at opposite sides of the pipes throughout substantially the entire ice producing arca of the rink floor.

12. A monolithic ice rink floor of solidified cementitious material having embedded therein a multiplicity of horizontal closely arranged substantially parallel pipes, a base on which said floor is movably supported for independent expansion and contraction, said rink floor being unitary and seamless throughout its entire ice producing surface and having embedded therein reinforcing means which extend transversely to said pipes and bond together the portions of the floor at opposite sides of said pipes throughout substantially the entire ice lproducing area of the rink floor, supply and discharge ducts along the floor adjacent the ends of the pipes, a plurality of connections between the said ducts and the pipes for distributing to and circulating through said pipes a medium for cooling the surface of the floor to an ice producing temperature, said connections being of a readily bendable material permitting relative shifting of` the fioor pipes and ducts as the fioor expands and contracts.

13. An ice rink floor having embedded therein a multiplicity of horizontal closely arranged substantially parallel pipes, afbase on which said floor is movably supported for independent expansion and contraction, supply and discharge ducts along the floor adj acent the ends of the pipes, a plurality of connections between the said ducts and the pipes for distributing to and circulating through said pipes a medium for cooling the surface of the floor to an ice producing temperature, said connections being of a lead like material and suitably bent to provide a readily yielding connection permittingv relative movement of the floor pipes and ducts as the floor expands and contracts.

dium for cooling the surface of the floor to an ice producing temperature, and a base on which said rink fioor is substantially uniformly supported throughout substantially its entire area for independent expansion and contraction, said rink floor being unitary and seamlesw throughout its entire ice producing surface and having embedded therein under the pipes substantially horizontal members which extend transversely to the pipes and bond together the portions of the floor at opposite sides of said pipes throughout substantially the entire ice producing area of the rink floor.

15. A monolithic ice rink floor of solidified cementitious material having a multiplicity of horizontal pipes embedded therein. means for distributing to said pipes a medium for cooling the surface of the Hoor to an ice producing temperature, a curb around the floor, and a base on which said floor is movably supported throughout substantially its entire area-for independent expansion and contraction` the entire rink Hoor within the area defined by said curb being unitary and seamless and having embedded therein substantially horizontal reinforcing members' whichextend transversely to the pipes and bond together the portions of the floor at opposite sides of said pipes throughout substantially the entire floor within the curb.

16. An ice rink floor of solidified cementitious material having a multiplicity of closely arranged substantially parallel horizontal ably supported for independent expansion l and contraction, and bearing means of sheet metal interposed between the floor and base to facilitate relative sliding movement of the floor and base.

17. An ice rink floor of solidified cementitious material havin a multiplicity of closely arranged substantially parallel horizontal pipes embedded therein, means for distributing to said pipes a medium for cooling the surface of the door to an' ice producing temperature, a base on which said floor is movably supported for independent expansion and contraction, and a sheet metal facing on the under side of the ioor and having a sliding engagement with the base.

18. An ice rink floor of solidified cementitious material having a multiplicity of closely arranged substantially parallel horizontal pipes embedded therein, means for distributing to said pipes a medium for cool-4 ing the surface of the floor to an ice producing temperature, a base on which said floor is movably supported for independent eX- pansion and contraction, and a sheet metal layer interposed between and slidably supporting the licor on the base.

19. An ice rink floor of solidified cementitious material having a multiplicity of closely arranged horizontal pipes embedded therein in substantially parallel' relation, means for distributing to said pipes a medium vfor cooling 'the surface of the fioor t0 an ice producing temperature, a base of insulating material on which said floor is movably supported for independent expansion and contraction, and a layer of sheet metal interposed between the fioor and insulating base.

20. In an ice rink floor the combination of a permanent base, sheet metal bearing means slidable on the base, and a fioor of solidified cementitious material molded on the sheet metal bearing means, said fioor having a plurality of closely arranged horizontal pipes embedded therein in substantially parallel relation, and means for distributing to said pipes a medium for cooling the surface of the fioor to an ice producing temperature.'

21. In an ice skating rink ioor structure the combination of a base of thermal insulating material, a composition ioor mounted on the said base and having a plurality of closely arranged horizontal pipes embedded therein in substantially parallel relation, means for uniformly distributing to said pipes a medium for cooling the surface of the fioor to an ice producing temperature, and a layer of sheet metal between and providing a sliding face permitting relative horizontal movement of the base and composition floor.

22. An ice rink floor of solidified cementitious material having a multiplicity of closely arranged substantially parallel horizontal pipes embedded therein, means for distributing to said pipes a medium for cooling the surface of the floor to an ice producing temperature, a base on which the lioor is movably supported for independentJ expansion and contraction, and a layer of sheet material between and by which the loor is slidably supported on the base. y

23. An ice rink Hoor of solidiied cementipipes.

- MARTIN R. CARPENTER. 

